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Phillip Ellingson Memorial Folder

Phillip Ellingson, age 88, of Hettinger, ND, passed away on early Wednesday morning, September 18, 2024 at the St. Alexius Medical Center in Bismarck, ND.

Visitation will occur from 4-7 on Tuesday, September 24, 2024 at the Centennial Chapel in Hettinger, ND with a friends and family service beginning at 7pm. Funeral services are scheduled for 2pm on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at the Hettinger Lutheran Church in Hettinger, ND. After the burial, lunch will be served at the Granary in Hettinger.

Phillip Duane Ellingson was born July 10th, 1936 to Elvin and Flora (Nash) Ellingson in Hettinger, ND. He attended school at Glendo School, a small one-room country school only a half mile from home. As the oldest child, Phillip only attended school through the 8th grade, then he stayed home to help his dad on the farm.

He met Sharon Sanford at a dance in Gascoyne, ND. They were married February 19th, 1965 in Reeder. As a couple they enjoyed square dancing. In fact, Phillip said it was one of the most fun things he ever did in his life. Phillip and Sharon made their home in rural Perkins County. 3 children were born to this union, Nancy, Brian and Rebecca. Phillip farmed and ranched, most often concentrating on cows and sheep, but also pigs and a few horses. Brian eventually took up farming and ranching right alongside his dad, and now grandson Tucker is following in their footsteps. Phillip took great pride in their generational farm and he often asked about the goings on with haying, harvesting or calving, as you just couldn't take the farmer out of the man!

His proudest moment was becoming a GRANDPA in November 2000. 3 more grandkids would bless his life arriving in Nov 2004, March 2016 and March 2019. While still on the farm he could be found giving rides on the 4-wheeler to Tucker and Sydney or playing cards or games with them. Tucker broke his leg in a sledding accident when he was only 4 years old.  Shortly after, Grandpa Phillip hurt his leg, requiring him to get a cast too. To make Tucker feel better he got a matching blue cast, and they were seen posing for a picture with their matching walkers and casts. That's a dedicated grandpa to need a cast at the same time!

Sharon fell and broke her ankle in August 2015. It was a difficult time for them to be apart as she never was able to return home to the farm. Phillip visited her when he could during her time in Bismarck, Spearfish and finally at Western Horizons Care Center. But he remained on the farm until January 2019 when he joined her at Western Horizons. He really thrived there. He had a positive attitude and willingness to try all kinds of new activities---from painting, to decorating cookies, dyeing Easter eggs and various art projects to name a few. They especially loved going to Bingo together and any musical entertainment. He was a faithful attendee of Sunday services in the nursing home, just as he was as a member of Duck Creek Lutheran Church, while still on the farm. He loved to tease and joke with the staff at the nursing home and he became a "favorite" of the staff, becoming a friend to many. As former neighbors and friends entered the nursing home he had more and more people to visit with—while often enjoying a cup of coffee and a cookie.

Throughout his life he enjoyed doing puzzles, but that pastime really flourished in the nursing home. He put so many together and many were framed and hung in the halls of the nursing home. He enjoyed giving family and friends a tour of the nursing home where his puzzles hung. Some people even started buying specific puzzles and requesting that he put them together for them. He gave many framed puzzles away as gifts, which we will treasure forever. His favorite puzzles to put together probably featured a red tractor or a beautiful landscape. Some of his puzzles have ribbons attached from when he entered them in the Adams Co and Perkins Co Fairs.

Phillip also loved watching westerns, listening to classic country music, especially the Alan Jackson gospel album, the Statler Brothers, and Daniel O'Donnell, and reading Louis L'Amour books. He loved reading Ole and Lena joke books and the real-life relatable humor of Baxter Black. We will never forget that chuckle he had when trying to retell a joke---every time he'd start to read it, he'd burst into laughter and after trying to compose himself, he'd try to start again with the same result. He was known for his easy-going demeanor and loved visits with family and friends, going to Nash and Ellingson family reunions and community gatherings. His grandchildren brought him such joy and he got such a kick out of the funny things they would do or say! He loved when they'd come trick-or-treating, playing catch with a balloon or ball with Hailey and Sonny, getting to see Tucker and Sydney graduate high school, and seeing new pictures uploaded to his Grandpad. A favorite memory is how he would hold your hand when you walked in the room and not want to let you go, keeping hold of that hand.

Grateful for having shared his life are his children, Nancy Ellingson, Hettinger, ND, Brian (Tressie) Ellingson, rural Perkins County, SD; Becky (Dan) Block, Lemmon, SD; grandchildren Tucker and Sydney Ellingson and Hailey and Sonny Block. He is also survived by 2 sisters, Bev Byers, Hettinger, ND; Kathy (Zack) Jones, Reeder ND; and brothers and sisters in law, Darwin Huiner, rural Perkins Co, SD, Alan (Pam) Sanford, Gardner, KS; Bruce (Joanne) Sanford, Great Falls, MT; Rick (Shari) Sanford, Newell, SD; Diane Sanford, Reeder, ND; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death in October 2021, by his wife of 56 years Sharon, his parents Elvin and Flora, father and mother-in-law Gordon and Hilda Sanford, sisters, Judy Materna, Cleo Huiner and 2 sisters in infancy, as well as brother-in-laws Tex Byers and Joe Materna.